Ronaldo to debut in about 2 weeks

Ronaldo's much-anticipated return to football is expected to happen in about two weeks, his coach at Corinthians said Tuesday.

Ronaldo, still recovering from knee surgery, will join the team's upcoming road trip and could play for the first time in the beginning of March.

"It's important for Ronaldo to be with the group," Corinthians coach Mano Menezes said. "He is becoming fitter and in 15 or 20 days he is going to be playing an official match." The debut could happen March 8 against Corinthians' biggest rival, Palmeiras. The 32-year-old Ronaldo signed a one-year contract with Corinthians last December, but has been training apart from the team in an effort to lose weight and fully recover from left knee surgery he underwent about a year ago while playing for AC Milan.

Corinthians returned to the Brazilian league this year after spending 2008 in the second division. The four-time national champions are currently second in the Sao Paulo state championship, three points behind defending champion Palmeiras.

SAO PAULO, AP